Bail set for Madison man accused of robbing store with pellet handgun

FARMINGTON, Maine — A judge set bail at $50,000 cash or $250,000 worth of property Wednesday for a Madison man accused of robbing Tranten’s Too in Kingfield with a pellet handgun June 18, 2012.

Kaleb Bowring, 20, made an initial appearance on felony charge of robbery and a misdemeanor charge of theft by unauthorized taking in Farmington District Court.

Since it was an initial appearance he is not required to enter a plea at this time.

Bowring is held on a probation revocation in Somerset County related to a conviction of theft in November, Joshua Robbins, assistant district attorney, told the court. He received a sentence of two years and 45 days, he said. Bowring began serving a six-month revocation in April at the Somerset County Jail in Madison, he said.

Robbins asked the bail to be set at $50,000 cash or a $250,000 worth of property. He also asked that Bowring have no contact with a long list of witnesses. Robbins asked that Bowring not be allowed to return or enter any Tranten’s store in Kingfield and Farmington.

Robbins said the robbery at Tranten’s last year was committed with the use of firearm. He also requested that Bowring not possess or use a dangerous weapon and be subject to random search.

Attorney Margot Joly said they were not going to argue bail. But did reserve Bowring’s right to revisit it once lawyer is appointed to the case. Attorney John Alsop had previously represented Bowring in other cases, she said, and asked if possible that he be appointed to this case.

Judge Susan Oram granted the state’s bail request.

A 22-year-old Vassalboro man is accused of being the get-away driver but has not been charged yet, according to Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. His case will go before a grand jury in the future.

According to county Detective Lt. David St. Laurent’s affidavit of support of probable cause, he and Randy Keaten, a Maine State Police detective, interviewed Bowring at the Somerset County Jail on Monday as part of a lengthy investigation.

“Kaleb confessed to the robbery and gave details of who was with him and what he did with the money he got from the robbery,” St. Laurent wrote. The second suspect also admitted to being the driver, he wrote.

Nichols had said Monday that $800 was taken in the robbery.

A conviction of felony robbery carries up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000.